Ute Kremer1,
Fabian Hezel2, Gabriele A. Krombach1, Thoralf Niendorf2,3
1Department of Diagnostic Radiology,
University Hospital, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany; 2Berlin
Ultrahigh Field Facility, Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC),
Berlin, Germany; 3Charit, University Medicine, Berlin, Germany
This
work proposes to combine phase-cycled bSSFP with k-t BLAST to overcome the
scan time penalty of multiple-acquisition bSSFP while still eliminating
off-resonance induced banding artifacts at 3.0 T. Acquisitions were conducted
using four-fold accelerated k-t BLAST and three phase-cycles. For comparison
conventional bSSFP was obtained and endocardial border sharpness (EBS)
assessment was performed. In theory omitting one of the four standard
phase-cycles disturbs the off-resonance profile's flatness, however for in
vivo imaging it yielded excellent banding reduction and improved the mean
EBS. Accelerated, phase-cycled bSSFP imaging promises to extend the
capabilities of routine CINE imaging at (ultra)high fields.
Keywords